Late Scahill strike points the way to historic victory

Coláiste Mhuire 3-11, Tralee CBS 1-16

The poet Seamus Heaney wrote of the long-for tidal wave of justice. At Croke Park on St Patrick's Day, Colásite Mhuire, Mullingar, wrote their own history by capturing their first ever Hogan Cup football title.

They did so in typically resilient style, finding something extra at the end of a pulsating final to grab the final two points of the match and claim the prestigious trophy for the first time.

Approximately 3,000 Coláiste Mhuire supporters turned up, outnumbering their Tralee counterparts and while the small number of fans were lost in the vastness of the great stadium, it still lent to a fantastic atmosphere.

The Mullingar side, appearing in the school's first ever final, got a dream start to lead by 1-4 to nil after five minutes, Will Scahill’s powerful finish finding the net in the third minute. Coláiste Mhuire could have had two further goals such was their early dominance.

A wonder goal by Conor Cleary after 15 minutes meant Coláiste Mhuire led by 2-5 to 0-4 at the end of the first quarter, while a superbly crafted third major just before the interval ensured Colásite Mhuire of a six-point lead at the break (3-6 to 0-9). Wing-hack Michael Moloney fisted home from close-range after Finn Higgins’ fisted ball across the face of goal.

There was a renewed urgency about Tralee CBS after the break and they got the opening two points, including a superb score from Ronan Carroll at centre-forward. Eoin Donohue’s vital interception on Carroll’s pass prevented a Tralee goal in the fourth minute.

In the 40th minute, midfielder Cian McKenna tucked away an excellent goal as Tralee CBS assumed complete control; they scored 1-5 to Coláiste Mhuire’s 0-2, drawing level in ominous fashion with 13 minutes remaining.

It remained 3-8 to 1-14 until the 54th minute when Nick Lacey, the deft Tralee CBS corner-forward, put his side in front for the first time with a quality point. Maloney equalised as Coláiste Mhuire showed resolve, but Gearóid White fisted over after a 60-metre run.

However, late points by Finn Higgins and Will Scahill put Coláiste Mhuire ahead two minutes into added time and in dramatic fashion, Tralee CBS had a late, late free from 60 metres that drifted wide.

Man of the Match award winner Michael Moloney said: “We have been doing that all year; we never panic. We are always creating scenarios in training where we are having to finish strongly. This is a huge win for Mullingar; it’s historic and we are going to celebrate."

Scorers - Coláiste Mhuire: M Moloney 1-2, W Scahill 1-2, P Keating 0-3, C Cleary 1-0, K Loughlin, F Higgins, S McWade, M Weir 0-1 each. Tralee CBS: M McKivergan 0-4 (1tp free), R Carroll 0-4 (3f), N Lacey 0-3, C McKenna 1-0, G White and E O’Flaherty 0-2 each, T O’Connor 0-1.

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: Adam Buckley; Ben Sheerin, Ty Masterson, Eoin Donohue; Michael Weir (Capt.), Seán Byrne, Michael Moloney; Críostóir Ormsby, Rory O’Brien; Paul Keating, Kian Loughlin, Conor Cleary; Will Scahill, Finn Higgins, Stephen McWade. Subs: Seán Hayes for McWade (46), Padraig Monaghan for Cleary (60+1).

Tralee CBS: Olivier Lata; Michael Enright, Eoin Moriarty, Stephen Turner; Fionnán Ryan, Eoin O’Flaherty, Mikey Corridon; Máirtín McKivergan, Cian McKenna; Tadhg O’Connor, Ronan Carroll, Tom Quilter; Ryan Hurley, Gearóid White, Nick Lacey. Subs: Cillian Hurley for O’Connor (44), Darragh Murphy for Hurley (48).

Ref: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).